Trauma center care not only saves lives, it is a cost-effective way of treating major trauma, according to a new report. Although treatment at a trauma center is more expensive, the benefits of this approach in terms of lives saved and quality of life-years gained outweigh the costs. The study finds that the added cost of treatment at a trauma center versus non-trauma center is only $36,319 for every life-year gained or $790,931 per life saved.